Artikkel i "Travel Scoop" - Januar 2000

Venabu Fjellhotell, Venabygd, Norway

by Knut Grotterod, Fredericton, NB

If you are tempted to visit lovely Norway - in
summer or winter - I would like to recommend the Venabu Fjellhotell
- or Venabu Mountain Hotel. The destination has been our favourite
winter holiday retreat for many years, usually late February/early
March when the cross-country skiing is superb. The trail maintenance
and terrain are excellent and ski instruction and tour guides are
available.

The hospitality here is superb. This property was
opened 50 years ago by the parents of the present owners - Line
Tvete Downing and Lars Tvete - and the hotel has been expanded and
upgraded and now offers 56 functional but pleasant rooms, each with
en suite shower. What a treat it is to step on the heated bathroom
floor in the morning or after skiing. There are also two saunas for
those so inclined.

Many of the guests here tend to be from
Scandinavia of course. but it is also popular with people from the
rest of Europe and the U.K. It's a great place to meet people and
make new friends and many guests return year after year. There are
two TV rooms where guests can catch the news in Norwegian, German or
English, but little time is spent there. Most guests congregate in
one of the two large living rooms to chat, read or play cards in
front of the fire or to dance to live music after dinner in the
evening.

Oh, what a treat the food is! Smorgasbord for
breakfast and lunch, consisting of both cold and hot dishes, as well
as special dinners with Norwegian and other specialities. We
consider the room and board prices (which vary widely according to
season to be very attractive, but as in all of Scandinavia, be
prepared for high liquor and wine prices.

The hotel located at the timberline, 932 metres
above sea level. The 140 km of marked and groomed trails -
designated from `easy' to `expert' - offer skiers the choice of
wooded or above-the-tree-line skiing. The view towards the Rondane
National Park is breathtaking. These fresh, quiet surroundings are
not disturbed by snowmobiles as they are outlawed for personal use
and only permitted for rescue or delivery of supplies to the many
cottages in the area. Should you tire of skiing, there are dog sled
trips, all-season horseriding and torch-lit sleigh rides to a Sami
tent for some glogg (spiced hot red wine). Go for it!

Some downhill skiing is available just 3 km away,
but for something more challenging Kvitfjell, the World Cup giant
slalom site, is only 20 minutes away. Tours can also be arranged to
Lillehammer, site of the 1994 Winter Olympics and "Maihaugen" the
famous outdoor museum. Reaching Venabu is not a problem. Every
Saturday morning buses leave from the hotel for Oslo airport (240 km
away) and return later in the day. If Saturdays do not suit your
plans there is also frequent bus and train service from Oslo to
Ringebu station, where someone from the hotel will pick you up.

Although we are most familiar with the winter
facilities here, summer and fall are wonderful for hiking and riding
and exploring nature in a glorious setting. Five nights in winter
with full board in the best rooms start at about C$525 pp, rising as
the year progresses to $810 in the summer with 5 days of guided
walks. Daily single supplements are between $7.50 and $18 depending
on room size.